Exiled premiership-winner Michael Jennings cleared to return to NRL club

Premiership winner Michael Jennings has been given the green light to return to the NRL three years after his exile began.

Michael Jennings. pic Mark Evans.

Exiled premiership-winner Michael Jennings has been cleared by the NRL to take up a new contract with the Roosters.

It was revealed last week the Chooks were preparing to give Jennings a lifeline, with the strike centre having served his three-year doping ban.

Channel 9 journalist Danny Weidler on Monday first reported the NRL has now cleared the deal for Jennings to take up a train and trial contract for 2024.

It has been three years since Jennings last played in the league after he was stood down by Parramatta over a positive doping test in 2021.

The Roosters are well stocked at centre with Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii the starting pair, but both are entering the final years of their deals and Jennings could play a role if injuries strike in the outside backs.

Jaxson Paulo (Sea Eagles), Paul Momirovski (Leeds Rhinos) and Corey Allan have both left the Roosters after 2023, which has opened up some squad spots out wide.

Jennings wants to return to rugby league and finish his career on his own terms.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson mentored Jennings for three seasons including a title winning campaign in 2013 and the band is getting back together 10 years later.

Jennings was originally suspended on October 9, 2020 after testing positive on a drug test.

His provisional suspension eventually saw Jennings’ contract with the Eels, ended in May of 2021.

Michael Jennings won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013.

On October 15 in 2021, Jennings accepted a three-year ban (backdated to 2020) from playing rugby league for doping.

His career has been further derailed by issues in his private life.

Jennings lost his appeal against his ex-wife who successfully sued him in a civil court for sexually assaulting her. He was ordered by the court to pay around $600,000 his ex Kirra Wilden.

Train and trial deals allow players to train full-time with the NRL squad on approximately $1000 per week, but not play NRL until Round 11.

Jennings has scored 154 tries in 298 games for the Panthers, Roosters and Eels since his debut in 2007 and played 18 Origins for the Blues and 19 Tests for Australia and Tonga.

Should his return to the NRL with the Roosters get the green light, Jennings has the chance to pass the 300-game mark at the back end of the season.